Sewing machine



H. J. LE: vr-:scoNTE ET Al.

May 17, 1949..

SEWING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 20, 1945 May 17, 1949. H. J.LE vEscoNTE ET AL 2,470,502

SEWING MACHINE i Filed Oct. 20, 1945 l 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 79 lawn y IN VENTORS` 'f M @dwf VEY

May 17, 1949. H. J. LE vEscoNTE ET AL 2,470,502

SEWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 wfg (fw INVENTORS BY@alf 7474@ f/ May 17, 1949. H. J. LE vr-:scoNTE ET AL SEWING MACHINEFiled oct. 20, 1945 Y 5 sheets-sheet 4 May 17, 1949. H. J. LE vscoNTEErm. 2,470,502

SEWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 yq 1 K Q Eg 5% l l'l D l m g x if i i i hh. J

N INVENTORS BY "M/ Mv Patented May 17, 1949 SEWING MACHINE Harold J. LeVesconte, Glendale, Calif., and Oscar Quist, Chicago, Ill., assgnors toUnion Special Machine Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of IllinoisApplication October 20, 1945, Serial No. 623,536

'7 Claims. l

This invention relates to improved work feeding mechanisms for sewingmachines and more particularly to improved continuous wheel feedmechanisms. It is of special advantage when applied to a sewing machineof the needle feed type and one which is equipped with a rotary hook forthe formation of lock stitches.

A primary object of the invention has been to provide a simple, sturdy7and efcient mechanism of the character above'indicated, whichis'inexpensive to construct.

It has been a further object of the'invention to provide a continuouswheel feed mechanism which is quiet and reliable in operation and whichmay readily haveits speed varied at ywill in relation to the speed ofthe main Vdrive shaft of the machine. This provides for appropriatevariam tion of the feed in accordance with'the length of the stitchdesired.

A special feature of theinvention-is the provision of a machine of theabove indicated type with a completely sealed and eiiectively lubricatedgear reduction unit which forms a part of the connection between themain drive shaft of the machine and the continuously driven feed wheel.

Another important feature of the invention is the provision of a changegear'mechanism capable of varying the speed of the feed wheel, and hencethe length of the stitch, which is substantially noiseless in itsoperation. This is, in part, accomplished through the provision of anarrangement by which only two gears are in mesh -for any selectedspeedof operation of the feed wheel, In addition to reducing noise, thisarrangement also reduces wear on the gears and thus lengthens the lifeof the mechanism.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of a readilyadjustable positive positioning means for varying the height of the feedwheel `in relation to the work supporting surface.

Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will appearfrom the detailed description of an illustrative form of the same, whichwill now be given in conjunction with the accompaning drawings, inwhich:

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section through the illustrativemachine;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view, partly in elevation and partlyinvvertical section, illustrating the feed wheel and associated pressermeans forming part of the invention;

Figure 3 is an end elevational View of the machine as seen from theleft. end of Figure l;

Figure 4 isa vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken alongthe line I-Aof Figure l;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the machine with a bottom cover plate,provided adjacent the rghthand end of the machine, removed'and withportions at the lefthand end broken away tomore clearly illustrate theconstruction;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view in vertical section, taken alongtheline 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is an enlarged View, partly in bottom plan and partly insection, of the lefthand end portion of the machine as shown'in Figure5; and

Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the needle head portion of themachine with the cover plate and certain thread takeup means removed.

Referring now to the drawings, the illustrative machine comprises aframe having a base or work supporting portion I0, a Vertical standard II, and an overhanging arm I2 terminating in a needle head I3. Power isVsupplied to the machine through a combined handwheel and pulley I4adapted to be connected by a belt with an electrical transmitter, or anyother suitable source of power. This pulley is secured to a main driveshaft I'5 which extends through the end wall of the Vertical standardnear its top and longitudinally through the overhanging arm I2 into theneedle head. It is mounted in suitable bearings in a manner well knownin the art. At its end within the needle head the shaft I5 carries aneccentric member I6, preferably of counter balanced construction, havingan eccentric pin or crank connected by means of a link Il with a blocki8 secured to a needle bar I9 which carries at its lower end one or moreneedles 20. The needle bar is mounted for vertical reciprocation withina yoke-like sleeve member 2l which is pivotally ,mounted for rockingabout a pin 22 at its upper end. The yoke memberZI has an offset portion23, in the region where the block I8 is connected to the needle bar, andbelow the oiiset portion member 2| carries a further bearing 24 for theneedle bar. It will be apparent that upon each revolution of the shaftI5 the needle bar w-ll be reciprocated longitudinally within the yokemember 2i by means of the eccentric l. This will serve to carry theneedle 20 downwardly through the work into cooperation with thecomplemental stitch forming means in the base and back to the positionindicated in Figure l.

In the machine illustrated, provision is made for simultaneouslyimparting a rocking movement to the yoke member 2i so as to cause theneedle to shift, while it is in cooperation with the work, insynchronism with the work feeding means. The mechanism for impartingthis needle-feed movementto the needle bar may be similar to thatdisclosed in the patent to Quist No. 2,329,484, granted September 14,1948, to which reference may be had for a full disclosure of thisconstruction. For the purposes of the present invention it will be butbriefly described. Projecting inwardly from the offset portion 23 of theyoke member 2| is a stud Z5 which is connected by a link 26 (Figures 1and 8) with an arm 21 secured to a sleeve or hollow shaft 28 surroundingthe shaft I and providing suitable bearings for the latter. Sleeve 2t issuitably journalled in bearings within the overhanging arm. At itsright-hand end the sleeve 28 carries an arm 29 (Figures 1 and 4) whichis pivotally connected at its lower end with a bearing block 30. Thelatter provides a bearing for a slidable rod 3| which at its upper endis also slidable within a yoke member 32 having an eccentric strapportion cooperating with an eccentric 33 secured to the shaft I5. Rod 3|carries a block S4 which is secured to the rod by means of set screws 35and which is pivotally supported at 36 by a member 31 secured to avertically shiftable rod 3S. The axial position of the rod 38 within itsbearings may be varied as desired by turning a knob 39 carrying a screwthreaded stem It cooperating with a threaded portion of the rod 33. Inthis manner the location of the pivot 3d about which rod 3| is rockedmay be varied and thus the extent of rocking of the system including rod3i and arm 29 may be varied. This rocking movement is imparted by theeccentric 33 which tends to carry the yoke 32 both up and down andtoward the right and left in Figure 4. Its right and left movements areimparted to the rod 3| to rock the latter and this rod, in turn, throughthe connection 30 rocks the arm 29, sleeve 28, and yoke 2| by virtue ofthe connections described. In this manner needle feed movements ofdesired magnitude are imparted to the needle simultaneously with thereciprocation of the needle bar.

Within the vertical standard II, suitable gearing is provided forconnecting the main shaft I5 with a shaft 4| within the base portion ofthe machine. This gearing comprises a pinion 42 secured to the shaft i5,an idler 43 mounted within the standard, and a pinion 44 secured to theshaft 4I. Shaft 4I is mounted in suitable bearings provided bydownwardly extending walls 45 and 46 of the frame, which together withfront and rear walls lil and 48 (Figure 4) form an enclosureconstituting a continuation of the space within the hollow standard. Aremovable cover plate 49 secured in any suitable way to the lower endsof the walls 45, 46, 4l, and 48, serves to complete the enclosure. A lug59 extending downwardly from the work supporting portion I6 of the frameprovides a further bearing for the shaft 4I. At its outer end, thisshaft carries a helical gear 5| meshing with a corresponding gear 52 ona vertical axis hook unit 53 of suitable construction. This may, forexample, be of the type disclosed in the above mentioned Quist patent.It will be understood that the vertical hook cooperates with the needle20 in stich formation upon operation of the machine. Due to the relativediameters of the gears 5I and 52 the hook will be driven at a to l speedin relation to the speed of the main shaft.

Secured to the shaft 4I within the enclosed chamber formed by thestandard I I and the downward extension thereof, as above described, isa worm 54 which meshes with a worm wheel 55 secured to a shaft 56(Figures 1 and 4) journalled in suitable bearings 51 and 58 in the frontand rear walls of the frame. Also secured to the shaft 56 is a worm 59which meshes with a worm wheel 68 secured to a shaft 6 I. This shaftextends from within the enclosed chamber, where it carries the wormwheel 60, outwardly through the wall 45 to the outer end of the Worksupport id. It is journalled in suitable lbearings 62 and 53 adjacentits outer end. Beyond the bearing lug 63 the shaft carried a pluralityof gears 64, 65, and 5G having different numbers of teeth. One oranother of these gears is adapted to mesh with its corresponding gear61, 68, and 69 carried by and secured for rotation with, a sleeve 'lilslidably mounted and keyed for rotation with a shaft li. Shaft IIterminates adjacent downwardly extending lug 12 at the outer end of thework supporting member. The shaft is journalled in a bearing sleeve 'I3carried by an arm 'I4 rockably mounted by means of a sleeve or hub 'i5carried by the shaft 6|. Sleeve or hub 'l5 is held against axialmovement along shaft 6I by means of collars l at its opposite ends. Arm14 is forked to straddle a screw TI having threaded engagement with anopening in the under side of the work support. The axial position ofscrew 'Il may be varied, as desired, by turning a knob 78. A spring i9coacting beneath the underside of the work support and the top of theforked portion of the arm 'I4 serves to urge the latter downwardly untilV-shaped projections on the forked portion cooperate with correspondingnotches in the upper face of the knob 18. The coaction between theV-shaped members 80 and the notches serves to hold the knob 'I8 in anyposition to which it may be adjusted. Adjacent the righthand end of thebearing sleeve 'I3 the shaft II carries a feed wheel 8|, the peripheryof which is preferably knurled or serrated to assist in the desiredfeeding action. This wheel may be secured to the shaft in any suitableway, as by means of a nut 82, as shown in Figure 5. Feed wheel 8| isadapted to project upwardly through a suitable opening 33 in a throatplate 84 carried by the work support. The extent to which the wheel 8|projects through the opening 83 and above the upper surface of thethroat plate may be varied as desired by turning the knob 18. This knob,as will be seen, is readily accessible below the work support so thatthe desired adjustment may be effected with facility.

In the illustrative machine the reduction gearing, comprising the worm54, worm wheel 55, worm 59, and worm wheel 60, is such as to effect areduction of 200 to 1. For this purpose a reduction of 20 to 1 iseffected between worm 54 and wheel 55 and a further reduction of 10 to 1is effected between worm 59 and wheel 6. Thus for 200 revolutions of theshaft 4|, or of the main shaft I5, the shaft 6I will be given but asingle revolution. While this has been found to be a desirable reductionfor the purposes of the illustrative machine, it will be understood thatit may be varied to suit the particular requirements of any machine.

A variation in the speed of rotation of the feed wheel 8| in relation tothat of shaft 6| may be accomplished at will by simply sliding thesleeve 70 axially of the shaft 1I. When the parts are in the positionindicated in Figure 5, in which gear 66 meshes with gear 69, the shaft'II will be given its slowest speed; hence the rate of feed will be atthe minimum. If sleeve I0 is shifted outwardly, i. e., toward the leftin Figures 5 and 7,

r to engage gear 68 with gear 65, the shaft 1I, and

hence the feed wheel, will be given their fastest movement. If thesleeve is shifted to its outermost position, as shown in Figure '7, tomesh gears 64 and 61, the shaft 'H and the feed wheel will be giventheir intermediate speeds of movement. The end '58a (Fig. 1) of thesleeve 'le may suitably be knurled to facilitate grasping it by thefingers and shifting it as desired. For the purpose of retaining thesleeve 1B in a selected axial position in relation to the shaft 7i, akey 85 retained within a key slot in the shaft 1I has a centrallydisposed teat 86 on its outer surface adapted to cooperate with any oneof a series of three openings 8l in the sleeve li). Key 85 is urgedoutwardly by a leaf spring Si? to retain the teat 86 yeldingly inengagement with the selected opening B1. Key B5 may also form thedriving connection between the shaft 'H and sleeve 10, it being adaptedto slide along a keyway within sleeve ill during the adjustment of thelatter.

It will be noted that the change gear mechanism provided by the gears611i to 69 inclusive, provides for the meshing of only two gears at atime. All of the gears 64, t5, and 56 rotate together as do all of thegears Sl, 6B, and 69. However, only one gear of each set will be activeat any particular time. This serves to eliminate considerable wear onthe gears and noise incident to meshing of a greater number of gears.

Cooperating with the feed wheel 8l there is preferably provided apresser wheel 89, whichis carried by an arm Sil mounted in any suitableway upon the lower end of a vertically movable presser bar 9E. Thelatter, as best shown in Figure 8,

is vertically slidable in suitable bearings within z' the needle head.It is urged downwardly by a spring e2 acting at its lower end upon a lug93 secured to the presser bar and acting at its upper end against thebottom of a screw threaded sleeve sli. The latter may be adjusted to anydesired height within the needle head frame by rotation of the sleevethrough the aid of a knob S55 at its upper end. Any suitable means maybe provided for lifting the presser bar, thus raising the wheel 89whenever desired for the introduction or removal of work, or the like.This lifting means may, for example, comprise a sleeve 96 slidablycarried by the presser bar and attached to the lower end of a link il?depending from an arm 98 secured to a rock shaft 53. The latter maysuitably extend longitudinally of the overhanging arm to a pointadjacent the standard and there carry an arm Mid (Figure 3) connected bya link lill (see also Figures l and 5) with an arm HB2 of a rock memberpivotally carried by the base of the machine. Another arm lili-i of thismember may be connected in any suitable manner with a foot treadle orknee control member or the like, not shown. Lifting of the presser barmay also be manually accomplished, if desired, by means of a lever lili(Figure 3) arranged to cam the lug 93 upwardly in a conventional manner.

It will be understood that the machine embodying the present inventionwill be equipped with the usual adjuncts for supplying and controllingthe thread for the needle or needles. The means for this purpose whichhas been partially illustrated, including a rotary take-up mechanism,need not be described since it does not form a part of the presentinvention.

In the operation of the machine the needle will be reciprocated onceupon each rotation of the shaft I5 and it will ber oscillated in themanner explained to impart a needle feed action upon each such rotation.Atthe same time, through the gearing 42, 43, and 44 and the reductiongearing described in the foregoing, the complemental means within thebase lwill be driven. The rotary hook, for example, will be drivendirectly by the shaft dlvbut at a Zito 1 ratio. The feed wheel 52 willbe driven at a greatly reduced speed by virtue of the reduction gearingand at a selected specific speed determined by the axial adjustment ofthe sleeve lll in relation to the shaft li. The adjustment of the needlefeed control member 39 and the adjustment of the sleeve 'lil shouldpreferably coincide so that the continuous feed imparted by the wheels ii will correspond with the needle feed action. The wheel 8|, however,may be driven at a slightly greater peripheral speed than the feedmovement imparted by the needles to allow for relative slippage betweenthe feed wheel and the work.

In the operation of the gearing within the standard. and the downwardextension of the base, oil retained within the sump formed by thisdownward extension, will be whipped into a spray both by the gear 4d andthe worm wheel 68 to insure thorough lubrication of all of therelatively sliding surfaces within the enclosed portion of the frame. Inthis way the major lubrication problems of the machine, including1ubrication of the speed reducing gearing, are taken care of.

While an illustrative machine has been described in considerable detail,it will be understood that numerous changes may be made in theconstruction and arrangement of the various parts without .departingfrom the general principles and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

We claim:

l. In a sewing machine, a frame having a base,

v;- a vertical standard and an overhanging arm,

said base and standard combining to provide a lubricant retaininghousing, a power receiving shaft extending into said housing, acontinuously driven work feeding wheel mounted in said base, anoperating shaft for said wheel which extends into said housing, andreduction gearing within said housing for interconnecting said powerreceiving shaft and said operating shaft, said gearing being arranged todisperse lubricant within said housing to lubricate the relativelymoving surfaces therein including all of the gearing connecting saidpower receiving shaft with said operating shaft.

2. In a sewing machine, a frame having a base, a vertical standard andan overhanging arm, said base and standard combining to provide alubricant retaining housing, a power receiving shaft extending into saidhousing, a continuously driven work feeding wheel mounted in said base,asupporting shaft for sai-d wheel, stitch forming means including arotary hook within said base, operating shafts for said wheel and forsaid hook, said operating shafts extending into said housing,connections from said power receiving shaft to the operating shaft forsaid hook for driving the latter, and reduction gearing within saidhousing for interconnecting said operating shafts to drive the operatingshaft for said wheel through the operating shaft for said hook, thelubricant in said housing being dispersed therein by said connectionsand gearing.

3. In a sewing machine, a frame having a base, a vertical standard andan overhanging arm, said base and standard combining to provide alubricant retaining housing, a power receiving shaft extending into saidhousing, a continuously driven work feeding wheel mounted in said base,a supporting shaft for said wheel, stitch forming means including arotary hook within said base, operating shafts for said wheel and forsaid hook, said operating shafts extending into said housing,connections from said power receiving shaft to the operating shaft forsaid hook for driving the latter, and reduction gearing within saidhousing for interconnecting said operating shafts to drive said wheeloperating shaft from said hook operating shaft, said reduction gearingbeing arranged to disperse 1ubricant 'within said housing to lubricatethe relatively moving surfaces therein.

4. In a sewing machine, a frame having a base, a vertical standard andan overhanging arm, said base and standard combining to provide alubricant retaining housing, a power receiving shaft extending into theupper portion of said housing, a continuously driven work feeding wheelmounted in said base, a supporting shaft for said wheel, stitch formingmeans including a rotary hook within said base, operating shafts forsaid wheel and for said hook, said operating shafts extending into saidhousing, change speed gearing directly connecting one of said operatingshafts with said wheel supporting shaft, connections from said powerreceiving shaft to the operating shaft for said hook for driving thelatter, and reduction gearing within said housing for interconnectingsaid operating shafts for driving the wheel operating shaft from saidhook operating shaft, said connections serving to distribute thelubricant throughout said housing.

5. In a sewing machine, a frame having a base, a vertical standard andan overhanging arm, said base and standard combining to provide alubricant retaining housing, a power receiving shaft extending into saidhousing, a continuously driven work feeding wheel mounted in said base,a supporting shaft for said wheel wholly outside of said housing, stitchforming means including a rotary hook within said base, operating shaftsfor said wheel and for said hook, said operating shafts extending intosaid housing, change speed gearing outside of said housing directlyconnecting one of said operating shafts with said wheel supportingshaft, said gearing comprising a plurality of gears xed to said one ofsaid operating shafts and a plurality of cooperating gears slidable onsaid supporting shaft for selective meshing with one of the gears onsaid operating shaft, connections within said housing from said powerreceiving shaft to the operating shaft for said hook for driving thelatter,

and reduction gearing Within said housing for interconnecting saidoperating shafts and driving the wheel operating shaft from the hookoperating shaft.

6. In a sewing machine having a work supporting base, a continuouslyrotatable feed wheel in said base and a main power receiving shaft,means for driving said wheel at different speeds which comprises a feedwheel operating shaft, reduction gearing connecting said shafts, a feedwheel supporting and driving shaft, a set of gears of different diametermounted for rotation with said operating shaft, a set of gears ofdifferent diameter mounted for rotation with said Wheel supportingshaft, a sleeve carrying and rotatable with one of said sets of gears,said sleeve being keyed to but slidable axially of the shaft on whichsaid set of gears is mounted to engage a selected one of said gears witha gear of the other set, and means coacting between said sleeve and saidlast mentioned shaft for retaining said sleeve in selected position onits shaft.

7. In a sewing machine having a work supporting base and a continuouslyrotatable feed wheel in said base, a shaft for supporting said wheel, anoperating shaft, gearing connecting said operating and supporting shaftsfor rotation in synchronism, said gearing comprising a set of gears ofdifferent -diameters on each of said shafts, the gears of one set beingshiftable axially in relation to the gears of the other set toselectively engage a gear of each set with a corresponding one of theother, a member carrying said supporting shaft, said member beingrockably carried by said operating shaft, and means for turning saidmember about said operating shaft and retaining it in set position foradjustment of said feed wheel, said means being disposed forwardly ofsaid supporting shaft and comprising a rotatable adjusting Screw andmeans for locking said screw in adjusted position.

HAROLD J. LE VESCONTE. OSCAR QUIST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNTTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 516,287 Watkins Mar. 13, 18941,168,536 Morley Jan. 1S, 1916 1,644,544 Ringe Oct. 4, 1927 2,061,225Duvall Nov. 17, 1936 2,189,656 Sauer Feb. 6, 1940

